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The ownership of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov's home has been dragged into the acrimonious divorce with his former business partner Vladimir Potanin.

Prokhorov, ranked Russia's fifth-richest man by Forbes, built up Norilsk Nickel with Potanin into the world's largest nickel and palladium producer.

The pair fell out last year and Prokhorov sold his 25% stake to the aluminium giant Rusal, headed by Oleg Deripaska. In return Prokhorov gained a 14% stake in Rusal and up to $8bn in cash.

A report in today's Russian daily Vedomosti suggested that Potanin has become a co-owner of the house and apartment belonging to Prokhorov.

Along with other joint assets totalling $2bn, they belong to a Cyprus-based trust managed by Interros, Potanin's holding company. The report said the legal owner of the assets is a vice-president at Interros.